BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of December 25, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, December 27, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.      Minutes for week of December 18, 2007.

2.      Resolution 2007-61 joint with Clark, Klickitat and Skamania Counties reappointing Rose Smith to position #7 as Clark County’s designee to serve as trustee of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library for a term expiring December 31, 2014.

3.      Resolution 2007-66 setting Skamania County policy for responding to elimination or significant reduction of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act payments.

4.      Contract amendment #1 with Mike Beanland to extend the term to February 23, 2008 and increase the amount to $2,500 to provide an analysis of the sub-meter system at Wind River Business Park. 

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending December 27, 2007 in the total amount of $201,709.59.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve payment to Evergreen Truss Company, Inc in the amount of $7,517.04.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve contract amendment A with the Military Department Emergency Management Division to extend the term to December 31, 2008 and increase funds by $1,802 for local emergency management programs.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2007-62 setting Current Expense and County Road Property Tax Levies for 2008 and Resolution 2007-63 adopting the 2008 Final Budget.  Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services gave a staff report on the proposed property tax levies.  Commissioner  Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-62 setting Current Expense and County Road Property Tax Levies for 2008.  Comments from the public regarding Resolution 2007-63 included a request from Skamania County Economic Development Council to allocate $200,000 in .09 funding to the Port of Skamania County to construct a light manufacturing facility in North Bonneville, 2008 salary schedules, and expansion of Rock Creek Community Center.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to include $400,000 in the capital improvement budget for .09 tax projects.  Marilyn Butler presented proposed changes to the 2008 preliminary budget for adoption in the final budget.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-63 adopting the 2008 Final Budget, with changes, in the total amount of $56,197,012.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2007-57 Supplemental Budget #4 for 2007 to supplement budgets for various department funds due to unanticipated expenditures and revenues unknown at the time of passing the 2007 budget.  Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services gave a staff report.  There were no comments from the public.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-57 Supplemental Budget #4 for 2007.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-64 creating a new Facilities and Recreation Department within the Current Expense fund to replace the Buildings and Grounds, Community Events and Recreation, and Swim Pool Departments and the Fair Fund.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-65 repaying Current Expense loans.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 27, 2007 and reconvened at 11:10 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board discussed job descriptions for Commissioners Office Assistant V and Human Resource/Safety Administrative Technician positions, with no action taken.

 

The Board discussed computer software upgrades, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:24 a.m. until 11:58 a.m., with no action taken.

 

Larry Douglass, Public Works Director gave an update on bids for the Rock Creek Pile removal project.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:19 p.m. Thursday, December 27, 2007 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development regarding public records requests, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-67 distributing 2007 Federal Forest Fund receipts from the Treasurer’s Trust.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the health insurance plans as submitted for 2008 for non-bargaining employees, bargaining unit employees and elected officials, effective January 1, 2008, with the following provisions:

  1. Non-bargaining unit employees will receive a $60 per month increase in salary effective January 1, 2008.
  2. Public Works bargaining unit employees will receive a $60 per month increase in salary, retroactive to January 1, 2008, when the Public Works collective bargaining agreement is ratified.
  3. Sheriff’s Guild bargaining unit employees will receive a $60 per month contribution to VEBA, retroactive to January 1, 2008, when the Sheriff’s Guild collective bargaining agreement is ratified.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the following change in salary schedules for 2008:

§         All non-bargaining employees will be on the same salary schedule as employees receiving health insurance.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the changes in salary ranges for non-bargaining employees as stated in the 2008 Budget that adjust employee pay ranges and elected official pay to reflect internal equity and a compensation package that is, with few exceptions, higher than the average of comparable counties.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 2:52 p.m. until 3:09 p.m., with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve an amendment to Resolution 2007-46 to include Senior Services in the new Debit/Credit Card Policy.

 

The Board, by unanimous consent, wished to thank all employees for a year-long job well done and authorized department heads and elected officials to close County offices at noon on Monday, December 31, 2007 and to grant administrative leave to all non-essential employees at the time.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m. Thursday, December 27, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON